MRS. ELYA KETRING by Mrs. Elya Ketring

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1902

MRS. ELYA KETRING

By Mrs. Elya Ketring

Chile

CALDERA.— We left Valparaiso, June 13, on the “Peru,” for Caldera, about four hundred miles up the coast. About two o’clock the second day we came in sight of a small town among the sand hills. Here we were glad to disembark after a journey which had not been the most pleasant. As we were going to Copiapo, fifty miles inland, we were compelled to remain at the hotel overnight. We went to the post office for mail, where we met the captain of an English sailing vessel, and made his acquaintance. He had been detained at this port for some time, and, being unable to speak Spanish, had very little to say to the people. On invitation, Mr. Ketring visited him on his vessel the next morning; and as their conversation turned to the condition of the religious world to-day, he sold him a copy of “Great Controversy.” He appeared to be a very thoughtful man, and we left him, trusting that the Lord would use the book in bringing him to a knowledge of the truth.

On reaching Copiapo we began immediately to search for a room. We have since been made to realize that the Lord led us in our selection. We found several rooms, but were undecided as to which one to choose. But the promise, “And thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it,” was verified to us. Later, Copiapo was visited by a flood. In the other houses which we had looked at, the water came up to the tops of the tables, and houses close by us were thrown down. The furniture of the rich was destroyed, and the poor were driven into the streets. Many lay in the streets and on church steps all night. Several were drowned in the river. News has come that there is but one house left standing in the village above us. The houses are all built of mud, as there is no timber near. Generally speaking, there is very little rain, and the people are poorly prepared for it. The house which we chose is in as high a spot as there is in the city. We thank the Lord for his care.

As soon as the bridges are rebuilt, we shall return to Caldera, the seaport, as there are about twenty English-speaking families there. They have no minister, and seem desirous to hear the gospel. I know of no other place which offers so good an opening for a teacher as does Caldera. They have no school to which they can send their children except the native school, and they are all anxious to have their children educated in English. They are almost all railroad people, and are able to pay a reasonable amount for each child. One would also have many native students, as there is a great demand for English. They desire that a young lady should come as a teacher, and stay in their homes with them. They would all heartily unite in making the school a success. But it matters not who comes, if he is competent to conduct a good school on the church-school basis. This is a great missionary field. Such a person could reach the children, and afterward the parents through them; and as there is no minister here, he would also be the religious leader of the people.

Some years ago an American gentleman and his wife who were here conducted a school. They had fifty students. They rented a hall, and the people furnished it with seats, pulpit, and a good organ. All the furniture is here yet. Brother Davis has sold many of our large books in this place, and I have put several copies into the hands of the people. There being no doctor here, they are glad to get our health books.

Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth reapers.